FOOTBALLTENNIS RULES
AS AMENDED BY THE FIFTA CONGRESS 2006 IN
(Corrected Version)
Contents:
I. Footballtennis
categories and disciplines
0. Categories and disciplines
II. Part of the rules common to all categories and
disciplines
1. Playing court and playing area
2. Net
3. Ball
4. Start
of play
5. Service
6. Ball
in play
7. Scoring
a point, winning a set and the match
8. Time-out
and player substitution
9. Faults
resulting in loss of a point
10. Misconduct
and sanctions
11. Player’s
equipment and protests
12. Miscellaneous
III. Special characteristics: single
1. Playing court and playing area
5. Service
6. Ball
in play
8. Time-out
and player substitution
IV. Special
characteristics: double
1. Playing court and playing area
5. Service
6. Ball
in play
8. Time-out
and player substitution
V. Special characteristics: triplet
1. Playing court and playing area
5. Service
6. Ball
in play
8. Time-out
and player substitution
VI. Special
characteristics: women, boys and girls
2. Net
3. Ball
6. Ball
in play
12. Miscellaneous
VII. Playing court and its dimensions
VIII. Enclosure to the Footballtennis Rules
13. Referees
IX. Cross Double
14. Footballtennis Rules of Cross Double
I. Footballtennis categories and
disciplines:
0. Categories and disciplines
0.1 Categories:
a) Men
b) Women
c)
Boys and girls:
- Juniors: age between 16 and 18
- Youngsters: age between 13 and 15
- Children: age up to 12
0.2 Disciplines:
a) Single
b) Double
c) Cross Double
d)
Triplet
II. Part of the rules common to all categories and
disciplines
1. Playing court and playing
area
1.1 Dimensions of
the playing court
a) for
single: 8.2 x 12.8 m
b) for double and triplet: 8.2 x 18.0 m
1.2 The playing court is split into two halves by
a net.
1.3 Base and side lines are part of the playing
court. The lines are 5 + 1 cm thick. The accuracy of the
dimension given is + 5 cm.
1.4 The playing area which shall be available
during the play has borders at least 3 m from the side lines and 3.5 m from the
base lines of the playing court. A permissible deviation of the playing area
from horizontal level is 1:100. Maximum unevenness of 2 cm without a sharp
transition is permissible. The minimum height of free space above the playing
area is 8 meters.
2. Net
2.1 Definition: only that part that is hung up
over the playing court between the side lines. The length of the net may be
defined by two round poles of metal or plastic which support the net on the
lines. The poles are part of the net.
2.2 The net is tensioned at both ends so that its
top part extends 110 cm over the playing court surface all the way across the
playing court. The maximum permissible height deviation of the net is +
2 cm. The distance between the lowermost edge of the net and the playing court
surface is not more than 20 cm. The height of the net for children up to 15 is
100 cm. Should the net subside during the play (a supporting pole will fall or
the tensioning cable will break) under the height limit permitted, the referee rules
a ”new ball”.
3. Ball
3.1 Official
FIFTA-ball parameters:
construction:
glued, 32 panels, colour: black and white, material: synthetic (natural)
leather, weight: 396-453 g, circumference: 680-710 mm, height of rebound:660-720
mm, inflation: 60-65 kPa. The height of rebound is measured on the Kistler
plate by having the ball fall from a height of one (1) metre with the valve
facing up.
4. Start
of play
4.1 The team (player) who wins the toss has the
option to choose either the side or the service.
4.2 In case of drawn sets before the third set it
is the option of that team (player) to choose the side or the service that -
after adding up obtained points - possesses higher number of winning points.
Only in case of equal number of winning points the toss is carried out.
4.3 If not stated
otherwise by the Technical Commission of FIFTA the time breaks are:
a) between
sets: one minute
b) between
matches: five minutes
The match is scratched if the team(s)
is(are) not present in time at the playing court.
5. Service
5.1 A service is executed by kicking the ball by
any part of the body, except for arm and hand, from the zone behind the
base-line, outside the playing court.
5.2 The way of serving: kicking the ball by any allowed
part of the body on the volley, after ball rebound, drop-kick or right from the
ground. Neither the ball nor the foot shall touch the playing court (including
the lines) when a service is being executed. The ball shall be released from
serviceman’s hand(s) or lay on the ground for servicing.
5.3 The service shall be carried out within 5
seconds from the moment the referee gives the order to start the play.
5.4 The ball shall cross the net and land on the
opponent’s service zone or touch the opponent(s).
5.5 The service is valid even if the ball touches
the net and then lands on the opponent’s service zone or touches the
opponent(s).
5.6 The service is always carried out by the team
(player) who scores a point.
5.7 The opponent is allowed to touch the ball
before it has touched his/her service zone. If done so, the ball must be played
at least once more by the receiving side.
6. Ball in
play
6.1 The maximum
number of ball drops on the ground:
single:
1, double: 1, triplet: 1. During the play, the player does not have to let the
ball drop down onto the ground (except for the opponent’s service).
6.2 The maximum
number of ball touches by the player:
single:
2, double: 3, triplet 3. The player may touch the ball with any part of his
body except for arm and hand. With the exception of singles, the player is not
allowed to touch the ball twice in succession. The minimum number of touches of
the ball by player before the ball crosses the net is one (1).
6.3 If played correctly by the player, the ball
shall touch the ground in the playing court only.
6.4 The service is repeated (”new ball”), if a
foreign object touches the ball or the playing court.
6.5 None of the players is allowed to touch the
net (even after the ball has been finished).
6.6 The ball is played correctly, only if it
crosses the net to land into the opponent’s playing court (see Rule 2.1).
6.7 If two opposing players touch the ball over
the net at the same time (”dead ball”) and the ball ends out of the playing
court, the service is repeated.
6.8 If two opposing players touch the ball over
the net at the same time (”dead ball”), the play continues provided that the
ball touches the ground within the playing court. In such a case, however, the
ball may be also played by the player who played the dead ball.
6.9 The player may play the ball over the
opponent’s part of the playing court, if standing or taking off and then
landing in his own playing court.
6.10 The player may play the ball in his own half
of the playing area only.
6.11 The player may unintentionally touch the
opponent’s leg (its part under the knee) by his leg (its part under the knee)
after he has played the ball.
7. Scoring a point,
winning a set and the match
7.1 The team (player) wins a point if the
opponent commits a fault, each such a fault being one point.
7.2 All the disciplines (single, double and
triplet) are played up to two (2) winning set. A set is won by the team (player)
who first scores 11 points with a minimum lead of two (2) points (11:9).
Otherwise the play is continued until the lead of two points is achieved
(12:10, 13:11, etc.).
8. Time-out
and player substitution
8.1 Each team (double, triplet) is entitled to
one (1) 30-second time out per set, after the coach (player) has requested that
from the referee.
8.2 Each player (single) is entitled to 2 (two)
30-seconds time outs per set after the coach (player) has requested that from
the referee.
8.3 Each team is entitled - except for single -
to substitute players twice per set.
8.4 The referee is entitled at any time in the
course of the set to declare ”referee’s time out” to remove obstacles of any
nature.
8.5 During the time-out the players must be present
in the own half of playing area.
9. Faults
resulting in loss of point
9.1 The team (player) loses a point if the ball
touches its court twice in sequence without being touched by player.
9.2 The team (player) loses a point, if the ball bounced
off the court surface and crossed the net to the opponent’s court without
having been touched by the player.
9.3 The team (player) loses a point, if a (the)
player touches the net by any part of his body. The service is repeated if the
net is touched by both opponents simultaneously.
9.4 The team loses
a point, if a player has made one of the following faults when the ball is
being served:
a) he touches
either the base line or a side line extended backwards with the ball or his
foot supporting the weight of his body when a service is being executed,
b) The ball being
served and flying to the opponent’s court is touched by a co-player,
c) the
ball lands outside the service zone on the opponent’s court.
9.5 A player touches the ball with hand or arm
(loss of point).
9.6 The ball played by a player travels to the
opponent outside the net (loss of point).
9.7 The ball played by a player lands outside the
opponent’s playing court (loss of point).
9.8 The ball is played by a player over the
opponent’s playing court and the player does not stand or takes off and does
not land within his own court (loss of point).
9.9 When played in a hall: if the ball touches a part of
the hall or its equipment (ceiling, walls, rings, etc.), it is a fault made by
the player who touched the ball last (loss of point).
9.10 A player holds or pushes his opponent with his
hand(s).
9.11 A player plays the ball twice in sequence
(loss of point; applies to doubles and triplets).
9.12 A player plays the ball on the opponent’s
playing court (loss of point).
9.13 The opponent’s player touches the ball before
the ball is touched by a player in whose playing court the ball has touched the
court surface (a loss of point in favour of the opponent).
9.14 A player touches an opponent player (with the
exception of 6.11) by his leg that is put out over the net.
10. Misconduct
and sanctions
10.1 If a player
exceeded the limit of 5 seconds for serving:
- first
delay : warning
-
second delay: loss of point.
10.2 Unsportsmanlike
conduct (protests, claims, deliberate playing the ball to hit the referee,
kicking the ball away, delaying the play, holding and pushing the opponent,
abusive language, improper gesturing, etc. by players, coaches, team leaders):
- for the
first time : warning
-
for the second time: loss of point.
10.3 Depending on how rude the misconduct is (Rule
10.2), a player is sanctioned by yellow or red card, the third warning results
in expulsion. After receiving the red card the player must immediately leave
the playing area.
10.4 An expelled player may be substituted by
another player (doubles, triplets). With singles, the opponent wins the match
2:0 (11:0, 11:0) by default or all the matches in the group are cancelled. When
the player is injured in such a way that he can not continue to play and his
team has no more substitution to utilize, the set is scratched in favour of the
opponent team.
10.5 If the referee is insulted by player(s) or
member(s) of the official delegation the match is scratched in favour of the
opponent team.
11. Player’s
equipment and protests
11.1 Players of one team shall use uniform playing suits;
if not they are not allowed to play by the referee.
11.2 When the play is interrupted, the team captain
or coach has the right to raise hand to deliver their protest(s) to the referee
and ask a question about the interpretation of the rules. The referee’s
decision is final.
11.3 Protests, if any, are dealt with in compliance
with the competition schedule, when the match is over. A final decision is up
to FIFTA’s court of arbitration.
12. Miscellaneous
12.1 Other disputable issues are dealt with by the
respective control authority of FIFTA competitions.
III. Special characteristics: single
1. Playing
court and playing area
1.1 The two halves of the playing court 8.2 x 6.4
m are divided by a middle line into two halves of the same size (service zone
4.1 x 6.4 m).
5. Service
5.1 A service may be executed only from the space
behind the base line, between the middle and side lines. A service shall be executed
diagonally from the right or left, depending on the own number of points
scored: from the right, if the number is even (0:0, 2:1, 4:6, etc.), from the
left if the number is odd (1:0, 1:1, 1:2, 3:2, etc.). If lands, the ball must land
in the opponent’s service zone.
6. Ball in
play
6.1 The player may touch the ball twice in
sequence before the ball crosses the net.
8. Time-out
and substitution
8.1 No substitution is allowed in single matches.
IV. Special characteristics: double
1. Playing court
and playing area
1.1 One half of the playing court is 8.2 x 9 m in
dimensions. None of the two service zone is divided - its dimensions are 8.2 x
6.4 m.
5. Service
5.1 A service may be executed only from the space
behind the base line, between the side lines, by any player serving the ball
into the opponent’s whole service zone.
6. Ball in
play
6.1 There shall be one touch of the ball by the
player between two drops of the ball on the ground.
8. Time-out
and substitution
8.1 The team consists of three players of whom
two shall be always playing and one is their substitute. The players in play
may be substituted by the third one.
V. Special characteristics: triplet
1. Playing
court and playing area
1.1 One half of the playing court is 8.2 x 9 m in
dimensions. None of the two service zones is divided - its dimensions are 8.2 x
6.4 m.
5. Service
5.1 A service may be executed only from the space
behind the base line, between the side lines, by any player serving the ball into
the opponent’s whole service zone.
6. Ball in
play
6.1 There shall be one touch of the ball by the
player between two drops of the ball on the ground.
8. Time-out
and substitution
8.1 The team consists of five players of whom three
shall be always playing and two are their substitutes. Substitution can be
carried out twice in a set, one substitution may involve two players at the
same time.
VI. Special characteristics: women, boys and girls
2. Net
2.2 The height of the net for children up to 12
is 100 cm.
3. Ball
3.2 A lighter
ball (e.g. for volleyball) can be used for Children’s category (age up to 12).
6. Net
6.1 One ball
drop more for each discipline (single, double, triplet) in Children’s category
might be introduced.
12. Miscellaneous
12.1 In the
year of a championship only the player, who achieved the right age (including
lower and upper age limit) stated for his (her) category, is allowed to take
part in the championship. Younger players can start in upper category only with
written permission of a physician (doctor). Youngsters and Children are allowed
to play in not more than two disciplines during one FIFTA’s event (championship,
tournament). It is forbidden to start simultaneously in two categories if their
competitions are held at the same time.
VII. Playing court and its dimensions
VIII. Enclosure to the Footballtennis Rules
13. Referees
13.1 Number of referees: The match (game) is arbitrated
by two referees (1st referee, 2nd referee). Another number of referees can be
stated by FIFTA’s Technical Committee controlling the competition. The support
by linesmen is welcome.
13.2 Rights of both referees: All members of the
team (players, coach, team leader, etc.) in the playing area are obliged to
keep the instructions of referees.
13.3 Duties of both
referees:
a) make opening
toss,
b) give
instructions for start of the play and for interruption of the play,
c) judge the
faults in play and decide (arbitrate) which team receives a point,
d) direct a new
ball having different judgement on fault that has happened,
e) control the
score of the match,
f) give
instructions to arrange dress, lines, playing area etc.,
g) judge the
players’ and others’ behaviour and give them penalties,
h) permit and
control the substitutions of players and time-outs,
i) measure and
keep time limits,
j) use a whistle
and official signals,
k) order a new
ball of a referee when needed,
l) arbitrate
the match according to the Footballtennis Rules valid in time of the
competition.
13.4 Complementary
duties of the first referee:
a) decide if
current conditions (weather, visibility, etc.) for the game are satisfied,
b) decide
which (first or second) referee will be directing the game.
13.5 Complementary
duties of the second referee:
a) decide if
technical conditions (size of the playing court, ball, net, lines etc.) are
o.k. for start of the game,
b) fill in the
match record,
c) adhere
to instructions of the first referee except judgement about faults in the game.
13.6 Standing point of referees: The referees
should stand behind the pile (pole) on both sides of the net except the
situation when the ball is moving to them or played next to them.
13.7 The referees have to use uniform suits
13.8 Referee
official signals:
|
Game situation |
Signal/Action |
|
New
ball (play over) |
Raise
the thumbs of both hands (hands held close together) |
|
Time-out |
Place
the palm of one hand over the other hand in a vertical position, forming the
letter “T”. Indicate the team requesting the time-out |
|
Double
drop |
Point
two fingers to the attacked area of playing court |
|
Triple
drop |
Point
three fingers to the attacked area of playing court |
|
Double
touch |
Raise
forearm vertically with two fingers extended |
|
Service
foot-fault |
Point
to line with finger |
|
Player(s)
substitution |
Make
a circular motion of open hands around each other at shoulder height |
|
Net
touch |
Touch
the net and indicate the player committing the fault |
|
Hand
play” |
Extend
one arm and tap its wrist with the other arm’s fingers |
|
Keep
playing! |
Extend
arms sideways |
|
Ball
outside the net (not going above the net) |
Extend
both arms above the head and wave |
|
Ball
in |
Point
to attacked area of court with open hand |
|
Ball
out |
Raise
the forearms in a vertical position with hands open, palms facing away from
court |
|
Ball
out after contact with a player |
Brush
fingers of opposite hand once over palm of vertical hand |
|
Interfering
foreign object (person, animal, second ball,…)on playing court |
Stop
the play (whistle) and use the “new ball” signal |
|
Touch
of the ball by blocking player |
Raise
the thumb of the right hand vertically and hold by the time the opponent
player touches the ball |
IX. Special characteristics - Cross Double
0. Cross Double categories and disciplines
0.1 Category:
Men
0.2 Discipline:
Cross Double
1. Playing court and playing
area – the same as in FT singles
5. Service – the same as in FT singles
6. Ball in
play
6.2 The maximum number of ball touches
by the team: two (2). The player may touch the ball with any
part of his body except for arm and hand. The player is not allowed to touch
the ball twice in succession. The minimum number of touches of the ball by
players before the ball crosses the net is one (1) or two (2) only when the rival´s
service is played on the volley.